The groundbreaking Child of Our Time is back on television screens, with half
the families divorced, hormonal children turning into teenagers and subjects
too sweetly shy to talk on camera.

The programme, which has been following the same group of 25 children since 2000, is now in its 13th year, as the subjects are on the brink of turning into teens.

The special two-part catch-up, broadcast on the BBC, captures the children on the brink of adulthood and is said to provide a window into "21st century British society".

Professor Robert Winston, who has followed the group’s journey since the programme’s inception, will once again observe the youngsters for the hour-long programmes, covering topics such as bullying, hormones, and the death of a parent.

Suggesting the only firm conclusion to be drawn from the show is not to judge children by their circumstances, he told the Daily Telegraph the latest stage of their lives will make “extraordinarily moving” viewing.

“The first thing we can see is that, not surprisingly for 13-year-olds, they are embarrassed about talking in front of the cameras,” he said.

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"There's no question they are somewhat embarrassed about the whole process now. I think what you notice now is an independence of mind, which we've not seen before.

“They have a criticality about their situation; the examining of the world on their own terms. It’s extraordinarily moving.”

He added that half of the children on the programme now have divorced parents, in line with the national average.

“I think there is a difference in the children,” Lord Winston said. “In some ways, the children in what might sometimes be called ‘difficult’ families have done rather well.

"They have matured rather quicker in some ways. I think it shows you can’t jump to conclusions about people or what appears to be a good or bad environment.”

He added programme makers did not allow themselves to be “surprised” by anything they found, pledging to merely observe and “let the viewer decide”.

The latest programmes, intended as a “catch up” for viewers, show the children’s parents coming to terms with their growing offspring as they learn to be more independent.

Speaking of the success of the long-running show, Lord Winston said he believed it was a form of reality television “without prying or prurience”, with “more responsibility” for their young subjects.

"I think reality TV shows [in general] are not a proper reflection of reality,” he said. “People go onto them because they want to be prominent on television, to re-establish a career that is fading, to be famous, to be celebrity.

“I think we have got a much more responsibility and an important purpose.”

The second part of the programme will be broadcast tonight on BBC One at 9pm.